Disc Brake Bolt-On???

Posted by BigKev On 2007/2/16 12:34:27

I thought I at one time there was a discussion about some brake parts vendor that was looking at creating a bolt on kit for the 51-56 Packards. Has anyone heard anymore on this?

I would be interested in putting that on my Clipper due the kind of traffic I deal with here in So. Calif.

I has talked to the guy here in So. Calif that made the brackets that Craig used on his conversion and he makes them to order, and it basically cost around $1,000 for the his kit.

There is a custom caliper bracket made, and your existing spindles are machined to take 70's GM truck bearing and disc setup. Also I think the where the tie-rod connects to the spindle arm is machine to provide clearance for the disc.

When I talked to him he gave me the impression that he will make one if the money is right and someone really wants it, but as each one is custom made, so its not something he advertises as it's not his main business.

I would be nice if a vendor was to create a new spindle assemble that would bolt in and replace the OEM one. So that way the OEM assembly didn't have to be modified. The vendor then could just sell the new spindle assemble and the caliper bracket, and you go buy everything else, and they could also sell the complete kit with the calipers, discs, bolts, lines, etc.

I figure between the 51-56 models there must be at least 15,000+ cars still out there, and this conversion may also work on earlier models.


Are you listening Vendors???? Hint Hint Hint

On that note I think it would be interesting to hear what other pieces Packard owners would like to see reproduced.

For me, I would like to see some rust repair panels made. If we take the 51-54 models. The same repair panel would work across all those years on most models. I see that the 51-56 rocker panels are produced and show up on ebay. But things like floor pans, and wheel well patch panels would be great. I think if more or these type of repair panels were made, we would start seeing more of the Post-War Packard get back on the road. Right now we have to either get a piece custom made, or hack another car up to get a panel. Which effectively takes another car off the road forever.

Now I know everyone cringes when people think of Street-Roding one of our Packards, but I must admit the Street-Rod crowd has created a demand in the market place that has caused vendors to create these type of repair parts for models that didn't have a market before. If the street-rod types ever started looking at the Packards as the new different thing to work on, perhaps a silver lining to come out of it may be a demand that causes vendors to create new parts for the Packard, that the Non-Rodders among us can benefit from. It's a bit of a double-edge sword I know, but just a thought.

Enough of my rambling....